----------------------------- GENET-news -----------------------------
TITLE: Europe to act on GM pollution of organic farms
SOURCE: The Independent, UK, by Geoffrey Lean
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/UK/Environment/2000-03/
gmpoll260300.shtml
DATE: March 26, 2000
-------------------- archive: http://www.gene.ch/ --------------------
Europe to act on GM pollution of organic farms
Ministers want Britons to have the power to sue GM companies, and
force them to pay massive damages if they harm health, the
environment or livelihoods. They are backing moves in the European
Parliament to make Monsanto and other giant firms financially
responsible for any ill-effects of their activities. They are
particularly keen to safeguard organic farmers, who face ruin if
their crops are contaminated with pollen from GM crops.
The measure would dramatically shift the balance of power in the
management of GM foods and crops to the public, while calling the
bluff of the firms, who have long claimed GM produce is harmless.
Last week the European parliament's environment committee passed an
amendment to an EU directive imposing full liability on the companies
for damage done by their products. The amendment goes before the full
parliament next month and, if passed, will be sent to EU environment
ministers for approval.
Michael Meacher, the environment minister, has already called on the
European Commission to draw up a similar measure, and he will raise
it again at a meeting with his EU colleagues this week.
Right-wing MEPs and David Bowe MEP, the Labour spokesman on the
environment committee, predict a bitter battle. "The companies have
been mounting a huge campaign behind the scenes to kill the
amendment," he says. "But they must take responsibility for their
products, and the public must be protected." Patrick Holden, director
of the Soil Association, hailed the amendment as "tremendous". He
says 30 organic farmers are close enough to the field trials of GM
crops announced 10 days ago, for their produce to be contaminated by
bees carrying pollen from the plots.
If this happened, the farmers could lose their licences as organic
growers, threatening their livelihood. Mr Holden says they have to
have the right to take the GM companies to court for compensation.
Under the provisions, companies could also be sued if genes from
their crops escaped and created "superweeds", or if GM foods were
found to damage health.
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